Device with a physical unit with at least two operating positions

ABSTRACT

A device ( 1 ) has a modular unit ( 6 ) which can be adjusted between at least two operating positions in the device ( 1 ) and which, in each operating position, can be accessed from outside the device ( 1 ).

Device with a physical unit with at least two operating positions Theinvention relates to a device with a modular unit, which modular unit ispositioned in an operating position and can be accessed from outside thedevice.

A device as mentioned above is known, for example, in connection with anaudio device having the type designation MC-i200, which audio device wasmade commercially available by the Applicant. The known audio deviceincludes an Internet module, which Internet module makes it possible toreceive radio transmissions, which radio transmissions are sent out overthe Internet or over a packet switching network as a data stream. Forthis purpose, a network jack is fitted in the region of a casing wall ofa casing of the known audio device in a manner such that it can beaccessed from outside, so that a network connector can be plugged intothe network jack, which network connector can be connected to thenetwork via a network cable. The network jack is designed as an Ethernetconnection and is fitted in the region of a rear wall of the casing andconnected to the Internet module.

The fact that the Ethernet connection or the network jack is fitted inthe region of the rear of the known audio device is on the one handadvantageous because there is good protection in this region againstexternal influences, but on the other hand is disadvantageous withregard to simple and fast plugging in of the network connector since theuser almost always has to handle or move the audio device in order tomake it possible to connect the network connector in an easy or easilyaccessible manner. Such handling is inconvenient and often awkward, andis thus disadvantageous. This is the case in particular when the networkconnector, together with its associated network cable, is provided to beadditionally connected to other devices for the purpose of producing anetwork connection, for example to a PC or to a laptop or to a small,portable audio device. Frequent or repeated changing over of the networkconnector between the various devices is then particularly impractical,and this is disadvantageous.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the problems mentionedabove and to provide an improved device with a modular unit which can beaccessed from outside the device.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, a device according tothe invention has features according to the invention, so that a deviceaccording to the invention can be characterized in the manner specifiedbelow, namely:

a device with a modular unit, which modular unit is positioned in anoperating position and can be accessed from outside the device,characterized in that the modular unit can be positioned in at least oneother operating position and in that case too can be accessed fromoutside the device.

By providing the features according to the invention, the advantage isobtained that a modular unit of a device according to the invention,which modular unit may for example be a network jack that can beaccessed from outside the device, can be positioned at will in variousoperating positions and is thus always accessible, as a result of which,on the one hand, for example easier operation and handling can beachieved with the modular unit and/or the device, which is verypractical and advantageous, or, on the other hand—if the modular unitis, for reasons that are desired, positioned initially, for example whenthe device is purchased, in an exposed or conspicuous and thereforesales-promoting operating position—the user of the device is given theopportunity to place the modular unit, for personal reasons, in adifferent operating position in which the modular unit is not exposedbut is therefore well protected. It is also possible, in a deviceaccording to the invention, for a modular unit that was previouslypositioned in a manner well protected from external accesses thereafterto be placed in an operating position that is less well protected butcan be reached easily and simply.

It has proven to be advantageous if additionally the feature as claimedin claim 2 is provided in a device according to the invention. This isparticularly advantageous with regard to a simple constructional designfor the positioning of the modular unit.

In a device according to the invention, the modular unit can be graspedmanually in order to move the modular unit from one operating positioninto at least one other operating position, where the modular unit isheld in each operating position by means of holding means. It has provento be very advantageous if the features as claimed in claim 3 areprovided. As a result, reliable and smooth adjustability is achieved.

It has proven to be very advantageous if additionally the feature asclaimed in claim 4 is provided in a device according to the invention.This is particularly advantageous with regard to a simple andspace-saving implementation or constructional design of the carrier ofthe modular unit.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if additionally thefeature as claimed in claim 5 is provided in a device according to theinvention. This is particularly advantageous with regard to simplepositioning of the modular unit in a number of different operatingpositions.

In a device according to the invention, operating positions that are ineach case not assumed can where appropriate be closed or covered bymeans of a suitable, separate matching piece which is in particularmatched to the optical properties of the device. It has proven to bevery advantageous if the features as claimed in claim 6 are provided. Asa result, simple and reliable covering of the operating positions thatare in each case not assumed is made possible.

The above-mentioned aspects and further aspects of the invention emergefrom the examples of embodiments described below and are explained usingthese examples of embodiments.

The invention will be further described with reference to examples ofembodiments shown in the drawings to which, however, the invention isnot restricted.

FIG. 1 shows, partly schematically, in an oblique view, a deviceaccording to a first example of embodiment of the invention, whichdevice has a pivoting arm as carrier for a modular unit.

FIG. 2 shows, partly schematically, in a plan view, another design of apivoting arm for a device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows, partly schematically, in an oblique view, a deviceaccording to a second example of embodiment of the invention, whichdevice has a modular unit, which modular unit can be positioned by meansof a rotating body.

FIG. 1 shows an audio device 1. The audio device 1 is designed to playback audio signals, which audio signals are transmitted over a datanetwork. The audio device 1 has a casing 2, which casing 2 has a frontwall 2 a, a rear wall 2 b, a top wall 2 c, a bottom wall 2 d and alsotwo side walls 2 e. A control panel 3 and a display unit 4 are fitted onor in the front wall 2 a in a manner such that they can be accessed andare visible. The control panel 3 comprises a number of buttons, by meansof which buttons the audio device 1 can be operated. The display unit 4serves to display messages or operating states of the audio device 1 andin the present case is formed by what is known as a dot matrix displayunit. On the rear wall 2 b there is a socket (not shown), by means ofwhich socket the audio device 1 can be supplied with electrical power.

The audio device 1 further has an Internet audio module 5 accommodatedin the casing 2, which Internet audio module 5 is designed to receiveradio and/or audio signals over a data network. Such an Internet audiomodule 5 is known, for example, from an audio device mentioned abovehaving the type designation MC-i200. A network jack 6 is provided forconnecting the Internet audio module 5 to the data network, by means ofwhich network jack 6 the Internet audio module 5 is connected toconnection means 7 which are shown schematically. The network jack 6 isdesigned as an Ethernet connection and is designed to receive what isknown as an RJ-45 connector. The network jack 6 forms a modular unit ofthe audio device. It may be mentioned that, instead of the Ethernetconnection, what is known as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectionand/or a connection in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard (FireWire)may be provided, and that, in the audio device, modules having adifferent functionality can be connected to one of these connections.

The audio device 1 furthermore has a parallelepiped-shaped oblong arm 8as carrier for a modular unit, which arm 8 has a first end 8 a and asecond end 8 b, where the first end is connected to a bearing spindle 9by means of which pivoting of the arm 8 is made possible. The bearingspindle 9 is mounted on the bottom wall 2 d in a manner such that it canpivot and is in this case arranged approximately in the geometric centerbetween the front wall 2 a and the rear wall 2 b, with the bearingspindle 9 running parallel to the front wall 2 a and the rear wall 2 b.In the region of the second end 8 b of the arm 8, the network jack 6 isfitted as a modular unit. The network jack 6 is in this case positionedby means of the arm 8 in a first operating position in which the networkjack 6 can be accessed from outside the casing 2 through a cutout 10 inthe front wall 2 a of the casing 2. Advantageously, this means that thenetwork jack 6 can be accessed from the front through the front wall 2 aso that a user of the audio device 1 can produce a connection of theaudio device 1 or of the Internet audio module 5 to the data networkrelatively quickly and conveniently, and without having to handle, thatis to say move, the audio device 1, specifically by plugging a datanetwork connector into the network jack 6. This may be advantageous, forexample, when the data network connector is also to be plugged into thedata network jacks of other devices.

An additional advantage of this first operating position of the datanetwork jack in the region of the front of the audio device 1 is that anetwork connection—on account of the presence of the network jack 6—canadvantageously be marketed to a potential purchaser of such an audiodevice 1.

If, for example, the needs of a user of the audio device 1 then changeto the effect that a network connection in the region of the front ofthe audio device 1 is no longer desired or regarded as advantageous, forexample if a network connector is no longer being plugged in frequentlyand/or for esthetic reasons, then the user of the audio device 1 has theopportunity to place the network jack 6 in a second operating positionby pivoting the arm 8, in which second operating position the networkjack 6 can advantageously be accessed from the rear or through the rearwall 2 b. The arm 8 is pivoted by hand, with auxiliary means (not shownin greater detail) being provided, by means of which auxiliary meanseasy pivoting from the underside of the audio device 1 through thebottom wall 2 d is made possible on account of the fact thatcorresponding openings are provided in the bottom wall 2 d.

When the network jack 6 is in the second operating position, the cutout10 can where appropriate be closed or covered by means of a suitablematching piece 16 which is matched in particular to the opticalproperties of the front wall 2 a. Such a matching piece 16 can beplaced, for example, as in the design shown in FIG. 2, by means ofsecond arm 14 lying opposite the first arm 8, in the correspondingposition to cover the cutout 10. The additional second arm 14 is formedof two legs 14 a and 14 b. The two legs 14 a and 14 b are in each caseconnected at a first leg end to a second bearing spindle 15 a and 15 b,respectively, with the bearing spindle 9 lying between the two bearingspindles 15 a and 15 b. The matching piece 16 connects the two other legends of the legs 14 a and 14 b. The design is such that the arm 14 andthe arm 8 can be pivoted in opposition, where the arm 8 can pass throughbetween the two legs 14 a and 14 b.

It should be mentioned that it will be easily seen by a person skilledin the art how to change or adapt the form or design of the arm 8, thebearing spindle 9, the cutout 10 and also the position of the bearingspindle 9 and the possibilities for the pivoting of the arm 8.

It should furthermore be mentioned that fixing means may be provided, bymeans of which fixing means the arm 8 can be fixed once an operatingposition has been reached. A latching device may be provided as fixingmeans.

It may be mentioned that the arm 8 may be pivoted automatically by meansof motor via a gear, which automatic pivoting can be activated by abutton on the control panel 3. As a result, advantageously no openingsare needed, as are required in the case of manual pivoting of the arm 8.

It should furthermore be mentioned that, instead of the bearing spindle9, a ball-and-socket joint may be provided, as a result of which theadvantage is obtained that an additional degree of freedom is given interms of the positioning or spatial alignment of the network jack 6 inthe respective operating position.

It may furthermore be mentioned that the Internet audio module 5 oranother module having a different functionality, which module isconnected to the modular unit, can be accommodated on or in the arm 8,that is to say can be located in the direct vicinity of the network jack6, in order to be able to design the connection means 7 such that theyare relatively short in order to promote improved and distortion-freetransmission of signals over the connection means 7.

The second example of embodiment according to the invention shown inFIG. 3 differs from the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that,instead of the arm 8 and the bearing spindle 9, a cylindricaldisk-shaped body 11 is provided as the carrier for a modular unit, bymeans of which body 11 the modular unit can be positioned in variousoperating positions. The cylindrical body 11 is mounted such that it canrotate about an axis 12 that runs essentially normal to the bottom wall2 d. The modular unit, in the present case again a network jack 6, isconnected to the body 11 and is in this case accommodated in the regionof a side surface 13, so that it can move with the cylindrical body 11.It should be mentioned that the network jack 6 may likewise be fitted inthe region of a top surface of the cylindrical body 11.

The network jack 6 and the cylindrical body 11 are positioned in a firstoperating position such that the network jack 6 can be accessed fromoutside the audio device 1 through the cutout 10 in the front wall 2 aof the casing 2. The cylindrical body 11 and consequently the networkjack 6 can, if circumstances so require, be placed in another operatingposition, specifically by rotating the body 11. By means of the presentdesign of the carrier as a cylindrical body 11, the situation isadvantageously achieved that the network jack 6 can placed not only inthe region of the rear or rear wall 2 b, but also in the region of oneof the two side walls 2 e.

It should be mentioned that matching pieces for covering the operatingposition that is in each case not assumed can be fitted on the sidesurface 13.

In the above examples of embodiments, audio devices are used. It shouldbe mentioned that such advantageous measures can also be applied in thecase of a TV set, video recorder, hard disk recorder, set-top box,personal computer or laptop or in the case of other devices having ajack.

In the solutions described above, the component that can be adjustedbetween at least two operating positions is in each case formed by ajack. It should be mentioned that a modular unit can also be formed by aconnector for connection to a jack.

It should furthermore be mentioned that a display unit may be providedas adjustable modular unit, which display device can be adjusted forexample between an operating position in which it is located in theregion of a front wall and an operating position in which it is locatedin the region of a top wall, in order to ensure either comfortableviewing from the front or comfortable viewing from above.

Moreover, it should be mentioned that a control panel for operating thedevice may be provided as adjustable modular unit, where the modularunit, that is to say the control panel, can be adjusted, for example,between an operating position in which it is located in the region of afront wall and an operating position in which it is located in theregion of a top wall, in order to permit either comfortable operationfrom the front or comfortable operation from above.

In a device according to the invention, it may furthermore be providedthat a modular unit has to be manually grasped in order to move themodular unit from one operating position to at least one other operatingposition, where the modular unit is held in each operating position bymeans of holding means so that no carrier is then required for themodular unit.

It may be mentioned that the modular unit (6) may also be named asphysical unit (6).

1. A device (1) with a modular unit (6), which modular unit (6) ispositioned in an operating position and can be accessed from outside thedevice (1), characterized in that the modular unit (6) can be positionedin at least one other operating position and in that case too can beaccessed from outside the device (1).
 2. A device (1) as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the modular unit (6) can be moved inrelation to a device spindle (9; 12).
 3. A device (1) as claimed inclaim 2, characterized in that a carrier (8; 11) that can pivot aboutthe device spindle (9; 12) is provided and in that the modular unit (6)is connected to the carrier (8; 11) and can be adjusted between itsoperating positions by pivoting the carrier (8; 11) about the devicespindle (9; 12).
 4. A device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized inthat the carrier (8) is designed as a pivoting arm.
 5. A device (1) asclaimed in claim 3, characterized in that the carrier (11) is designedas a rotating body.
 6. A device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterizedin that the carrier (8; 11) is designed to cover the operating positionthat is in each case not assumed.
 7. A device (1) as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the modular unit (6) is formed by an electricalconnector unit.